Fit Note vs Sick Note in Australia: Understanding Online Medical Certificates

What Are Fit Notes and Sick Notes? Understanding Online Medical Certificates in Australia

If you've searched for an online medical certificate (or med cert online) in Australia, you might encounter the terms "fit note" and "sick note" — especially in overseas articles or UK-based resources.

Here's what those terms mean and how they relate to getting a medical certificate online in Australia.

Understanding Fit Note vs Sick Note: UK Terms and Online Medical Certificates

• Sick note is the traditional UK term for evidence of illness — essentially a medical certificate confirming you were unfit for work.

• Fit note replaced "sick note" in the UK in 2010 to focus on what an employee can do, not just what they can't.

In Australia, both "fit note" and "sick note" refer to what Australians call a medical certificate or sick-leave certificate — a document confirming you were unfit for work. When you get an online medical certificate in Australia, you're getting the same type of document, regardless of whether someone calls it a fit note, sick note, or medical certificate.

What Australia Uses: Medical Certificates and Online Medical Certificates

Australian workplaces and the Fair Work Act generally refer to:

• Medical certificate (the standard term)

• Absence from Work Certificate

Both are accepted as valid evidence if issued by an AHPRA-registered practitioner. This includes online medical certificates obtained through telehealth services, as long as they're issued by registered practitioners. Your medical certificate online serves the same purpose as a traditional in-person medical certificate — providing proof of illness for work or university purposes.

Getting Your Online Medical Certificate in Australia

You can now obtain an online medical certificate or sick leave certificate through trusted telehealth services in Australia. Getting an online medical certificate or med cert online is faster and more convenient than visiting a clinic in person.

At First Point Health, we strive to enable experienced and AHPRA-registered practitioners to issue medical certificates or sick leave certificates for work or universities as fast as possible for people in need. Our online service ensures you get a legitimate sick certificate without the hassle of visiting a clinic.

When you get your online sick leave certificate, you'll receive:

• Same-day delivery to your email

• Fixed, transparent pricing for your certificate

• No certificate, no charge — you only pay if your certificate is approved

Find out more about how to get your certificate now →

Key Takeaways About Fit Notes, Sick Notes, and Online Medical Certificates

• "Fit note" and "sick note" both mean a medical certificate or sick-leave certificate — the same document you can get as an online medical certificate.

• In Australia, online medical certificates issued by AHPRA-registered practitioners are valid evidence under Fair Work.

• Getting an online medical certificate or med cert online is faster and easier than traditional methods — perfect when you need a medical certificate quickly. Some people also refer to this as getting a med cert online — it's the same legitimate online medical certificate service.

• Whether you call it a fit note, sick note, or medical certificate, an online medical certificate from an AHPRA-registered practitioner is valid for work and university purposes in Australia.

Find out more about how to get your certificate now →